Chapter 232

Chapter 232
Anton’s POV
My phone screen came up again. It was Damian. For the third time in five minutes.
Something must be up. This is unlike him.
I broke away from the laptop screen and finally picked up.
“What’s wrong? ” My voice was from.
“It’s better you see it for yourself,” Damian said. 
I swallowed. When Damian speaks like this, it means a disaster of cataclysmic proportion just occurred. 
He summarized  in few words and hung up . “Michael. National TV.”
My stomach churned violently as I dropped my phone. I reached for the remote with dreaded anticipation. 
Michael smug face and arrogant voice immediately filled the screen. I couldn’t sit. I just stood in front of the screen like a man before a firing squad.
The damn fool was in full performance mode.
By Jove! The damn bastard missed his calling. He was made for the camera 
His delivery and technique was right on the money. The controlled outrage, the fake sorrow he wrapped around every syllable.
“I tried to help Queenie. I really did. But … Let’s just say she had her eyes on some bigger price. That girl’s got a gift. She was always good at making sure every situation gave her an advantage. A master manipulator. Junie? That was her play for sympathy. Then she found Anton. You know bigger bank account, better connections. The rest speaks for itself.”
I didn’t blink or breathe. My jaw was locked. I grinded my teeth so hard that I felt a stab of pain shoot to my brain.
These weren’t just lies. It was premeditated character assassination.  Michael had weaponized Junie. 
He had just crossed a line no man could walk back from. And I’ll make sure he pays dearly for it.
I picked my phone and dialed my lawyer’s number. The moment he picked, I went on a spree. This wasn’t the time to be exchanging pleasantries. I was on war footing.
“launch a full-scale defamation suit. I want injunctive relief, punitive damages, cease-and-desist, the full works. I want a restraining order if we can get away. ”
“Understood. We can. The instances are sufficient” I heard his formal tone. “Do you want to go public now or wait for a coordinated PR response?”
My eyes  flicked back to the screen as the host asked Michael if he thought Queenie was dangerous.
He didn’t hesitate. I saw a slight scowl on his face. “I wouldn’t leave my child in her care.”
My blood boiled.
“We go now. I want him torn to pieces. Do you hear me?  Torn to pieces. Shredded. Fling the kitchen sink at him.  Make a public statement tonight. Get me the PR team. Call in an emergency meeting. We respond, and then we obliterate him.”
I hung up and quickly dialed Queenie.
She answered on the second ring, her sounded lifeless. “I saw it.”
I felt a stab in my chest. Michael you are going to pay. I’ll make sure of that.
“I’m handling it,” I said. I did my best to sound like I was in charge. “He won’t get away with it. That’s my promise to you.”
“What good will that do? Everybody believes him now.” Her voice cracked on the last word. “He said I used Junie.”,
I closed my eyes for a brief second. I messaged my temple with my thumb  
“Let them believe it for now. Truth comes with consequences. He’s going to face every last one.”
She didn’t speak. If I had to guess, I think she will be curled up on the couch, trying not to fall apart in front of Junie. The image only fueled his fury.
“We fight this, Queenie. With truth. With force. ”
I hung up before emotion bled into my voice. 
This was no time to fall apart.
By 9 PM, my office was packed.
My lead counsel. Elise from PR, flanked by two assistants. Even Julian, my COO, showed up unannounced.
I stood at the conference table. My sleeves were rolled up and my face was grave as a stone. 
Michael’s interview played on a loop on the large screen behind me. Each damning sentence was highlighted with timestamps.
“Run it,” Anton ordered.
My lawyer  took the clicker and began breaking it down: we can sue for defamation, this is malicious intent, reputational harm, career impact. 
I already knew all this, but hearing it again was a confirmation that I was on the right track.
Elise spoke next. “He has given about three major media outlets the same narrative. This means the whole stunt was coordinated and was prepped  weeks ago. They timed it perfectly, knowing it would hit harder especially as she won The court case.”
The nerve and guile on this snake! I’m going to enjoy grinding him under my feet. 
I nodded once. “I want everything. Every piece of dirt you can find on him. Anything that smells as a scandal.  Unpaid debts, lawsuits, custody issues, ethics complaints. Dig into Ghana too. If he bribed anyone, find them.”
Julian raised a brow. “You sure you want to go scorched earth?”
Anton didn’t hesitate. “ I am going beyond scorched earth. I don’t want rubbles. I want smoldering ashes”
We worked deep into the night. We built several timelines, drafted press statements and prepare legal filings.
I gave my approval to a strongly worded rebuttal that was to go on air that morning. It was supported with documents that refuted Michael’s claims.
I added a brief but blistering personal statement to it.
“Michael Fisher’s statements are not only false but utterly malicious. My fiancée, Dr. Queenie Andrews, is a deeply committed mother and physician. This attack is an act of retaliation and  character cowardice. It’s a cheap and pathetic attempt to tarnish the image of a valuable member of my family and the society. We will use every possible  legal means  to correct the public record and protect our family.”
I insisted the word family remain. 
I wanted the whole world to know my stand.
At 2:12 AM, the office finally emptied out. My team looked like they have been put through the races but they remain focused. Elise assured me that media outlets were already broadcasting our response. 
Allies were already speaking out. Queenie’s past patients were going online on their social media accounts and giving glowing testimonial of her professionalism and character. 
The tide was beginning to shift.
Still, I  couldn’t  bring myself to stay still.
I drove home through the dead-silent city. I past a club district and the flashing neon lights took me back to a former life for a second.
I smiled a bit. Those days have come and gone.
I turned and put my foot to the accelerator and sped off.
It was drizzling. It was just enough to blur the world outside the windshield.
I entered the house, it was dark and still like I expected it would be. I found Queenie asleep on the couch, her hands gripped the blanket she covered herself with.
She definitely cried herself to sleep.
I crouched beside her as I brushed off a curl off her cheek. Her eyes open slowly, hazy with confusion that comes with being stirred awake. 
“Hey,” I whispered. “It’s me.”
She stared at me for a beat, then whispered, “Is it over?”
“No,” I said gently. “Not yet. But I can tell you one thing, we’re going to end it.”
Queenie sat up slowly shaking the drowsiness off. “He said Junie was leverage.”
My jaw tensed. “He also said you were unstable. You manipulated men for a living. And by implication, you were using me.”
She looked away. I could only guess what was going through her mind.
I cupped her chin and turned her back to face me. “You are the strongest woman I’ve ever met. You didn’t break when they suspended your license. You didn’t break when CPS came barging into our lives. Don’t you dare break now.”
“But everyone….”
“Let them talk, fuck them. Do I look like I care? ” I cut her off. “ Let them say what they want to say. It’s just for a little while. Then we’ll show them who we are.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. She nodded and will them back into their place.
That’s good. Fight those tears. Don’t give him the joy of seeing you break.
I pulled her into my arms and held her she buried her face in my neck. “This ends with him destroyed. And you rising. I’ll make sure of it. I promise you this.”
There was a long silence between us as we remained in each other embrace. Finally, Queenie murmured, “I’m scared.”
“I’m not,” Anton said. “Not of him. Not anymore. I’m going to crush him.”
I stayed there. I held her until her breathing slowed and sleep returned.
Later, when she was tucked into bed, I sat alone in my study. The glow of the city cast long shadows across the room. My laptop was open. I heard the frequent notification of emails steadily streaming in . 
I stared at it. I went to a table, and poured myself a drink. It was non- alcoholic wine. 
Grandma will be so proud. I thought to myself as I chuckled.
A breaking headline soon appeared: “Michael Fisher Accused of Defamation After Explosive Interview.”
Then, quietly, I said to himself, “You made this personal, Michael. I teach never to go after one’s family.”
And I meant every word that followed with every fiber in my body.
“You’re going to regret the day you decided to mess with Queenie.”